(Texas News Service) Americans have returned to driving their cars and trucks at near pre-pandemic levels, resulting in more deadly accidents. A national transportation research group is out with a new report, calling for a more comprehensive approach to transportation safety.

When the pandemic hit in April 2020, nationwide vehicle miles traveled plummeted by 40 percent from the year before. But two years later, they'd mostly climbed back up. U.S. traffic deaths also surged from 2020 to 2021, according to TRIP, the nonprofit Road Information Project.

In Texas, said Rocky Moretti, TRIP's director of policy and research, fatalities climbed 24 percent over the past four years.

"Vehicle travel is up 3 percent in Texas. Nationally, since pre-COVID, it was down 1 percent," he said. "So, when you see those types of fatality increases, it is a reflection, largely, of the behavior of drivers."

Moretti said the economic and quality-of-life impact to Texas because of fatal traffic accidents was estimated at $168 billion last year. In general, large Western states reported more traffic deaths during the study period, but Connecticut and Vermont showed the highest percentage increases. 

Moretti painted a grim picture of what kinds of fatal accidents increased, noting the share of motorcyclists not wearing helmets from 2019 to 2021 almost doubled, from 17 percent to 29 percent.

"Alcohol-involved crashes up 22 percent; the number of people unrestrained up 20 percent; speeding crashes up 23 percent and 'distracted by' 13 percent," he said, "and motorcycle deaths are up 20 percent."

It wasn't just vehicle accidents that increased. Moretti said significantly higher bicycle and pedestrian fatalities also contributed to the 42,000 traffic deaths last year.

"Clearly, what we saw was riskier behavior by motorists," he said. "And moving forward, I think a really thought-out comprehensive approach to work together - but these numbers are beyond unacceptable."

Beyond vehicle damage, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said other economic costs of crashes include medical care, lost productivity, legal and court costs, insurance administrative costs and workplace costs.